THE Bluebirds battle against Middlesbrough at Cardiff City Stadium tomorrow means a lot to Andrew Taylor.

THE Bluebirds battle against Middlesbrough at Cardiff City Stadium tomorrow means a lot to Andrew Taylor.

Left-back Taylor has been ever-present in Championship football for City this season and how he would love to help his team come out on top.

Taylor was in the Middlesbrough starting line-up when they won 3-0 in Cardiff two seasons ago, while he later moved to South Wales and was in Malky Mackay’s starting line-up last season. But Boro came out on top again, this time 3-2.

Cardiff finished above their rivals in the final table each time – just edging the final play-off spot last season – and the chase is on again.

Middlesbrough lie second, just behind leaders Crystal Palace, with City, chasing hard to record a ninth successive league home win, in third place.

There are still quite a few players from Taylor’s final season at Middlesbrough still with the club, including goalkeeper Jason Steele, Scott McDonald and Marvin Emnes, while former England defender Jonathan Woodgate is back with the Teesside club.

Taylor was in Boro’s team when Woodgate joined the club in a £7m transfer from Real Madrid during 2007. Now he’s back and has made 11 first team appearances this season.

Woodgate has been outstanding for Middlesbrough, while Taylor is a key competitor for City.

And Tony Mowbray, Boro’s manager, would still love to have Taylor in his squad and says: “Andrew, for me, is more than just a footballer. He’s three players in one.

“He played left-back for me with great success, while he spent a lot of time in midfield, playing either in a three-man or four-man system. He is a highly versatile player.

“There was a bit of disappointment and frustration he left Middlesbrough for Cardiff. I have said before I would have liked him to stay.

“But he left and that is history. There are no hard feelings.

“Cardiff are competing at the right end of the table and I’m sure he is happy with his decision.”

Hartlepool-born Taylor, 26, first signed for Boro as a nine-year-old schoolboy and stayed 15 years.

He earned England Under-21 recognition plus playing Premier League and European football for Middlesbrough.

When his contract at the Riverside Stadium during the summer of 2011, Taylor had a big decision to make.

“A few clubs were in for me, but it came down to working with Malky Mackay again,” said Taylor. “I had enjoyed playing under him during a loan spell at Watford.

“There were a few clubs interested, but some needed me to wait. Only three, Watford, Bristol City and Cardiff were prepared to do a deal quickly.

“In the end it was the Malky factor which made a difference. When I joined Watford on loan he was new into management and I didn’t know much about him, but I loved the way he worked.

“His energy and enthusiasm rubs off on the players. He is meticulous in his planning. He’s a good manager and Cardiff City is a fantastic club to play for.

“I had been at Middlesbrough my whole career and was in a comfort zone. The time was right for me personally and for my career to move on. It was a huge decision and I will always have great affection for Middlesbrough.

“My time there was fantastic. Steve McClaren was manager when I broke into the first team and there were world class players at the club.

“Gaizka Mendieta, Gareth Southgate, Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink, Mark Viduka, Jonathan Woodgate, Michael Reiziger, Bolo Zenden. To get the knowledge and experience from players like that was invaluable.”

Tomorrow, though, Taylor’s focus will be on making sure the Bluebirds come out on top against Boro. A win could take City top – if leaders Palace slip up at home against Derby County – but Taylor and his team-mates won’t look beyond the task against Middlesbrough in front of them.

Matt Connolly has been back in full training this week and is expected to be back in the starting line-up with Kevin McNaughton still on the mend after suffering a thigh strain during City’s 2-1 win against Hull City.

Manager Mackay is unlikely to make other changes to his starting line-up, although Craig Bellamy is back in the matchday squad and probably among the substitutes.

With Connolly at right-back and Don Cowie still working towards full fitness after a knee injury, Aron Gunnarsson is likely to resume alongside Peter Whittingham in central midfield.

Gunnarsson took over at right-back when McNaughton limped off against Hull. Mackay and his medical team will check on the players who have been in the treatment room this week – and there are quite a few – this morning and it looks certain goalkeeper David Marshall, Stephen McPhail and Bellamy will be available.

Marshall withdrew from the Scotland squad for their midweek friendly against Luxembourg with a groin strain, but that won’t keep him out against Boro tomorrow.

McPhail underlined his return to fitness by playing 90 minutes in a third appearance for City’s development team, while Bellamy has returned from a week-long treatment and rehabilitation visit to America.

Bellamy damaged an ankle against Watford three weeks away, while Mackay has confirmed he is now back and ready for action.

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